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Eric Person

Eric Person is setting a new standard in sound. For over twenty years, Eric has been committed to composing, recording and performing contemporary American music. He plays the alto and soprano saxophones and flute and is featured as a leader and sideman on more than 30 recordings. Eric studied at the St. Louis Conservatory of Music and has been active in the New York and international jazz scene for decades. His broad range of experience with Dave Holland, McCoy Tyner, Chico Hamilton, Ronald Shannon Jackson, the World Saxophone Quartet, and John Hicks, have all contributed greatly to his mature alto and soprano sound and his skills as an arranger and composer.

After many years of making a name for himself, bassist Dave Holland asked Eric to join his band in the fall of 1993, this was by far Person's most challenging musical experience. Dave's use of odd meters, free time, and modality was just the opportunity Eric was looking for. They released Dream of The Elders, which highlighted a sound that was light, energetic and ethereal. Person's association with Dave Holland opened the doors to an even more fruitful period that continued throughout Eric's work with the World Saxophone Quartet (WSQ). For the next four years, Eric was performing with Dave Holland, WSQ, Chico Hamilton and also debuted his first CDs for Soul Note Records: Arrival, Prophecy and More Tales To Tell.

Eric released his debut album Arrival in 1993. Arrival emphasized a variety of styles and Eric’s willingness to take chances. It was an auspicious beginning which paved the way for his 1994 release, Prophecy. Prophecy was more conceptual, focusing on solo, duo and trio settings, while mixing Eric’s songs with those of John Coltrane. Down Beat Magazine gave these recordings 3 1/2 and 4 stars respectively.

In 1997, More Tales to Tell, revealed Eric’s continued development in music. The album featured with wonderful arrangements, strong composition, and an expanded band that featured acoustic guitar, bass clarinet, bassoon and flute. Down Beat Magazine gave the recording 4 stars. In 1999, Eric established his own band, Meta-Four, and released Extra Pressure, under his own label, Distinction Records. 2003 Brings us “Live at Big Sur”, this CD captures Meta-Four in dynamic performances recorded the year before at the Big Sur Jazz Festival. Russ Musto of All About Jazz Magazine stated "Person is more then fine; he's a major talent of his generation."

In 2005, Eric released his sixth CD entitled, Reflections. It includes a combination of his favorite previously recorded compositions and three previously unreleased live tracks. It's a reflection of Eric as a bandleader, composer and improviser expressed through his favorite performances as a leader.

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30
Album Review

Eric Person: Blue Vision

Read "Blue Vision" reviewed by Jack Bowers


What are the odds that a Person who plays jazz saxophone would meet another Person who plays jazz saxophone, that they would become fast friends and find they were so musically compatible that they would not only perform together but decide to record an album featuring their two horns as the front line? Meet alto saxophonist Eric Person who in 2009 performed onstage for the first time with tenor saxophonist Houston Person, his senior by almost three decades but someone ...

8
Album Review

Eric Person: Blue Vision

Read "Blue Vision" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


A veteran of Chico Hamilton, Dave Holland, and The World Saxophone Quartet, saxophonist Eric Person knows a sweet gig when he plays one. This well earned and hard earned knowledge unequivocally guarantees that Blue Vision, Person's soulful homage to late night organ trios, church, and sax legendHouston Person, is about as cool a blue session that you'll hear any time in the near future. Blue Vision has one wafting in and out of the daily routine then returning ...

5
Album Review

Eric Person: Thoughts on God

Read "Thoughts on God" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Revered saxophonist Eric Person parlays God's message via the jazz vernacular, his spiritual ascension and unbridled fortitude equating to one of the finest modern jazz outings of 2012. Here, Person interlinks the Duke Ellington/Charles Mingus connection, branded by his personalization of the jazz idiom, teeming with impressive compositions and inspiring arrangements. Tinted by a little big band sound, bop, and jaunty soloing extravaganzas by the thirteen-piece ensemble, the musicians wind down a few notches on “"Never Far From ...

328
Album Review

Eric Person: Rhythm Edge

Read "Rhythm Edge" reviewed by Fred Bouchard


This fleet suite of 78 minutes fans out like a brilliant kaleidoscope of musical events, dovetailing thematic ideas and playful brief solos. After an elastic spooky turn on the Jerome Kern classic “Yesterday," a panoply of 13 originals leads down merry paths of ear-tweaking modes and startling arpeggiated lines at rattlingly good but often-shifting tempos. Rhythm Edge impresses with top-notch musicianship but always keeps you guessing. Who is this charmed and charming Person and what is his ...

222
Album Review

Eric Person: Reflections: The Best of Collection

Read "Reflections: The Best of Collection" reviewed by Florence Wetzel


Reflections is an enjoyable selection of saxophonist Eric Person's music from 1993 to 2003, culled from five CDs, plus three previously unreleased tracks recorded at the 1998 Texaco Jazz Festival. All the pieces showcase Person's impeccable chops, which combined with his warmth, intelligence, and wry humor, make him a very special talent indeed. There's not a false note on the whole collection, but several songs in particular stand out. “Perfection" has an angular melody and unique conception; Person's ...

228
Album Review

Eric Person: Eric Person And Meta-Four: Live at Big Sur

Read "Eric Person And Meta-Four: Live at Big Sur" reviewed by Russ Musto


Live concert recordings have always been a particularly effective medium for jazz, encouraging extended improvisation that can often be inhibited in the studio. When the cohesive working unit being recorded is Eric Person's Meta-Four, their performance can benefit from an enthusiastic audience. Such is the case with this enjoyable disc recorded last year at the seventh annual Big Sur Jazz Festival. Person's broad range of experience with drummers Chico Hamilton, Ronald Shannon Jackson and Ronnie Burrage, the ...

529
Interview

Q&A with Saxophonist Eric Person

Read "Q&A with Saxophonist Eric Person" reviewed by Ludwig vanTrikt


Although you recorded “live" before ( Live At Greenwich House and Live at Caravan of Dreams both with Ronald Shannon Jackson) this is your first live recording. How was the process different being a leader?

Eric Person: Everything is different when you are the leader. It's a lot of weight on your shoulders. People looking at you for things, instead of others. With the Shannon Jackson “live" recordings, I was a sideman, and a young one at that, ...

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1

Video / DVD

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Person of interest

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Person of interest

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Today, let's look at some videos featuring saxophonist and St. Louis native Eric Person, who's coming back home for the first time in five years to perform in a free concert for the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University this coming Thursday, April 2. Person, who's now 51, grew up in North County and began playing local jazz gigs while still attending Normandy High School. After graduation, he moved to NYC in 1982, and over the next decade refined ...

68

Crowdfunding Campaign

Seeking Funds for His Next Project Via Kickstarter, Eric Person Joins Growing Crowd of Creative Types

Seeking Funds for His Next Project Via Kickstarter, Eric Person Joins Growing Crowd of Creative Types

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Saxophonist Eric Person is down to the last week of his Kickstarter campaign to fund his proposed next album Thoughts on God-Project of Hope. The 48-year-old St. Louis native, who has performed with jazz luminaries including McCoy Tyner, Dave Holland, Chico Hamilton, and the World Saxophone Quartet, so far has attracted 110 backers who have pledged $10,597 toward his $20,580 Kickstarter goal. That figure represents the amount Person will need to produce the CD, including recording studio time, mixing, mastering, ...

48

Event

Jazz This Week: The Jazz Collective, Eric Person, the Sound Clinic, and More

Jazz This Week: The Jazz Collective, Eric Person, the Sound Clinic, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This weekend's schedule of jazz and creative music in St. Louis isn't as jam-packed as the last two, but there still are a number of noteworthy performances happening over the next few days. Let's go the highlights... As it happens, the best-known musicians in town this week are performing under the somewhat generic-sounding name The Jazz Collective on Friday and Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro. The all-star band includes drummer Jimmy Cobb, pianist Cedar Walton and bassist Buster Williams, ...

40

Performance / Tour

Eric Person to Play Saturday, April 23 at Robbie's House of Jazz

Eric Person to Play Saturday, April 23 at Robbie's House of Jazz

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Saxophonist and St. Louis native Eric Person (pictured) is coming back home later this month to perform Saturday, April 23 at Robbie's House of Jazz. Person, who now lives in Brooklyn and doesn't get back to St. Louis all that often, will be joined for the gig by bassist Willem von Hombracht and drummer Demarius Hicks. His most recent CD The Grand Illusion was released in the fall of 2010, and his last performance here in St. Louis was back ...

78

Performance / Tour

Eric Person Releases New CDs, Readies for European Tour

Eric Person Releases New CDs, Readies for European Tour

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Saxophonist, composer and St. Louis native Eric Person has just released his latest CD The Grand Illusion (pictured) via his own Distinction Records label. Recorded with his electric band Metamorphosis, the disc is Person's eighth CD as a leader. The Grand Illusion features 13 original compositions in what Person calls his “rhythm and groove" style, and is available through online retailer CD Baby. In addition to Person on saxophones and flute, musicians performing on the CD include guitarist Cary DeNigris, ...

173

Music Industry

Jazz This Week: Tiempo Libre, Eric Person, Musica Slesa, and More

Jazz This Week: Tiempo Libre, Eric Person, Musica Slesa, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Once again, there's a varied selection of jazz and creative music on tap this weekend in St. Louis, and time is short, so let's go to the highlights:Tonight, there's a memorial for Blake Travis at the Sheldon Concert Hall, the first of two events this week honoring the late percussionist, singer and storyteller.Though Travis didn't usually work in the jazz idiom per se, he played with all sorts of St. Louis musicians over the course of ...

593

TV / Film

Jazz It Up! Episode 10, Season 2: Christian McBride Big Band, Eric Person Trio, Jon Hendricks, Robin D.G. Kelley, Vintage Oscar Peterson

Jazz It Up! Episode 10, Season 2: Christian McBride Big Band, Eric Person Trio, Jon Hendricks, Robin D.G. Kelley, Vintage Oscar Peterson

Source: Michael Ricci

One of the hardest working men in jazz, bassist Christian McBride, leads a big band at the Iridium in New York City for the last episode of season 2 of Jazz it Up! In the first of two feature songs, tenor saxophonist Todd Williams caresses a blues as McBride co-signs on bass and voice; during the second, McBride's uptempo composition “The Shade of the Cedar Tree," the big band lifts the groove high, as McBride relates details about his upcoming ...

182

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ann Hampton Callaway, Eric Person, Frank Catalano, Frank Rosaly, and More

Jazz This Week: Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ann Hampton Callaway, Eric Person, Frank Catalano, Frank Rosaly, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

You might say this week's menu of jazz and creative music events in St. Louis has a sort of Noah's Ark vibe to it. The performances are coming in pairs, including two female vocalists, two versatile saxophonists, and two shows with an experimental/free improv bent.It all gets started on Thursday, when Chicago percussionist Frank Rosaly does a solo show of music from his new recording Milkwork at Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center. Rosaly uses both acoustic and electric instruments, ...

161

Performance / Tour

Eric Person to Perform at the Ambassador on Saturday, October 3

Eric Person to Perform at the Ambassador on Saturday, October 3

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Saxophonist and St. Louis native Eric Person (pictured) is coming home next month to perform Saturday, October 3 at the Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd in St. Louis.Backed by bassist John King and pianist Adaron “Pops" Jackson of Good 4 The Soul and drummer Kevin Kelly, Person will do two sets, at 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.Tickets are $15 and will be available for purchase in person at all Metrotix outlets or the Ambassador box office, ...

142

Music Industry

Notes from the Net: When Lester Met Fela; Eric Person in Iowa; Boney James Tops Billboard Chart; and More

Notes from the Net: When Lester Met Fela; Eric Person in Iowa; Boney James Tops Billboard Chart; and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Here's our weekly compilation of news and links related to jazz, improvisation, and creative music in St. Louis, including news of musicians originally from the Gateway City, recent visitors, and coming attractions, plus assorted other items of interest:* It's something of a tradition here to start this recurring feature with something Miles Davis-related, and this week there's just one such link, to a podcast tribute to Davis and Kind of Blue, hosted by Errington Thompson.* However, ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Laura

Sunjump Records
2024

buy

Blue Vision

Self Produced
2022

buy

Under the Porch

Ropeadope
2022

buy

In Vivo

Ropeadope
2021

buy

Vivid Landscapes

Self Produced
2021

buy

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